Still , like most aerospace programs , nothing happens quickly . The composite blade project with Erickson took about 11 years to become certified . But Wagner said , “ What set us apart as a company is meeting the needs of Erickson with regard to manufacturing — allowing the blade structure to be produced without the use of an autoclave , which offers a lower cost for production .” The blade contains multiple layers , with the special epoxy in a specific pattern and orientation , which is consolidated with heat and vacuum pressure in an oven , to create the finished composite blade .
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Wagner added , “ The partnership between Erickson and Toray Advanced Composites was based upon scale and timing . We were the right size for a technical resource and were responsive .” Going forward , Wagner said , “ The process is becoming faster and more streamlined . New innovations will not take as long .”
According to a press release by Erickson , Inc . ( May 2 , 2020 ), “ Erickson built a composite manufacturing facility from scratch in 2015 . After thousands of hours of design , testing , and analysis by Erickson ’ s engineers and partners , the new composite main rotor blades are now approved by the FAA for the S-64E with an initial life that will increase as fatigue testing continues . Certification for the CH-54A is expected to follow quickly in the coming weeks …”
Billy Johnson , chief engineer at Erickson said , “ The pilots love the new blades . They mainly notice two things right away : First , as they lift objects or water , they notice a dramatic reduction in engine torque required when compared to lifting the same thing with metal blades . Second , they notice a dramatic reduction in vibration , especially when transitioning from forward flight to hover ( which typically would rattle the fillings out of your teeth ). The new blades make for a much more comfortable ride .”
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Parts - Assemblies - Tooling - Prototyping
DECEMBER 2020 | JANUARY 2021 ISSUE NO . 18 15